Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs

Saturday 7 March | 7:35pm AEDT (6:35pm AEST)
Gabba, Brisbane • Yuggera - Toorabul
Broadcast: Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

LAST MEETING

Round 19, 2025
Brisbane 12.14 (86) def. Western Bulldogs 12.4 (76)

The Western Bulldogs' finals aspirations suffered a dent when Brisbane triumphed by 10 points at the Gabba late last season. Despite the Dogs' best efforts in the last quarter, they couldn't quite close the 21-point gap. 

Bailey Dale (33 disposals), Rhylee West (four goals) and Marcus Bontempelli (24 and a goal) were terrific, while Aaron Naughton finished with two majors.

THE LINE-UP

WHAT IT MEANS

The Western Bulldogs will be out to bounce back from a frustrating campaign where they paid a huge price for too often failing to beat the other finals contenders while brushing aside the lesser lights. The Dogs get the ideal opportunity to show that they can improve in that key area as they begin their season against the reigning premiers while boasting a best 23 packed with top-end talent.

GAME SHAPER

Marcus Bontempelli showed all the signs of a leader who has found a fire in the belly after the Western Bulldogs lost their grip on a finals spot late last season. The Dogs skipper looks primed to hit the ground running after injury forced him to make a delayed start to last year's campaign and tuned up with 29 disposals and six clearances in the AAMI Community Series clash with Hawthorn.

The Western Bulldogs have kicked seven final-quarter goals to pull off a pulsating five-point win over two-time premiers Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Trailing by 26 points late in the third quarter, the Dogs were teetering but finished full of running to win 16.15 (111) to 15.16 (106).

Ed Richards was colossal for the victors, finishing with two goals from his 30 disposals that included 16 score involvements.

In a match that continued to raise in intensity the further it went, there were five lead changes in a thrilling fourth quarter, before Tim English put the Dogs in front for the final time after a gut-busting run allowed him to mark the ball 20m from goal.

Kai Lohmann had a late chance to level the scores, but his hurried snap went wide.

Brisbane will be disappointed to lose, generating 63 inside 50s to 50, but didn’t do too much wrong.

Charlie Cameron kicked four goals and looks back to his absolute best, while Harris Andrews and Ryan Lester won the ball back repeatedly in the back half.

Andrews could find himself in hot water with the MRO though, following a third-quarter incident that left young Dog Arthur Jones concussed.

Following an arm-wrestle of a first half where both teams struggled to break free of the opposition shackles, things opened up after the main break.

Brisbane appeared to blow the even contest open midway through the third quarter, going on a run of five goals that included two from crowd favourite Lohmann, to lead by 26 points.

But the Dogs would not be denied.

Sam Darcy and Bailey Williams kicked goals to get within striking range at the final change, and after English, Rhylee West and Richards kicked truly early in the last, suddenly the visitors were in front.

BRISBANE                    3.1    6.7    12.9   15.16 (106)
WESTERN BULLDOGS   2.7   5.10   9.14   16.15 (111)

GOALS
Brisbane: Cameron 4, Morris 3, Lohmann 2, Zorko, Zakostelsky, Allen, Bailey, Fort, Rayner
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Darcy 2, Richards 2, Williams, West, Naughton, English, Budarick, Bramble, Davidson

BEST
Brisbane: Cameron, Andrews, Reville, Lester, Neale, Zorko
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Bontempelli, Lobb, Liberatore, Budarick, Williams
 
INJURIES
Brisbane: McCluggage (calf)
Western Bulldogs: Jones (concussion)

Crowd: 31,606 at the Gabba